Moms-To-Be Should Be Extra Diligent About Oral Health

Posted on May 16, 2013 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

While many pregnant women become more health conscious during pregnancy, moms-to-be should also be extra attentive to their oral health. Research has shown that oral decay and the bacteria of periodontal disease can lead to pre-term labor.  Additionally, many OB/Gyn doctors now caution their pregnant patients that poor oral health during pregnancy can put an unborn child at risk of infections or low birth weight.

When pregnant, women often eat more frequently. The reaction in your mouth is an acid attack every time you eat or drink. Be sure to swish or brush afterwards and floss daily. Use a tongue scraper, which helps to remove oral bacteria embedded in the tongue.

For those who are experiencing morning sickness, try to rinse with a mixture of warm water and baking soda. Most importantly, however, have a thorough periodontal examination early in your pregnancy to ensure you and your baby can both enjoy optimal health!

To schedule a periodontal exam, call (828) 274-9440.

Tips For Arthritis Sufferers To Protect Oral Health

Posted on May 14, 2013 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

If you are an arthritis sufferer, you are twice as likely to develop periodontal (gum) disease. Gum disease is the country’s number one cause of tooth loss and has been linked to serious health problems. These include coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, and memory loss. Findings published by the Journal of Periodontology stated that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had an average tooth loss of 11.6 teeth compared to 6.7 teeth of other participants in the study.

RA is the nation’s leading cause of disability and limits the daily activities of over 7 million Americans. Because we understand the physical limitations RA can cause, the following tips are provided to make your oral hygiene at home easier.

• Water irrigators can remove food particles and plaque between teeth.

• Electric toothbrushes and floss holders can reduce the amount of effort required by the hands.

• Wrap toothbrush handles with a sponge hair roller to create a more comfortable, thicker grip.

• Replace knob-type faucets with levers, which are easier to turn on and off.

• Insufficient saliva in the mouth increases the risk of bacterial growth. Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist. If you are taking medications that are drying, oral rinses are available to help maintain oral moisture. Minimize caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, all which are drying to oral tissues.

With a good oral care commitment, RA sufferers can maintain a healthy smile and prevent tooth loss. If you suffer with arthritis, overcoming the physical limitations to protect your smile will result in a constant reminder that YOU are in charge of your health!

Seeing Red When You Brush? NOT Normal!

Posted on May 02, 2013 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

To clean something, to get it really clean, we often think about using ‘elbow grease’ to give a good scrubbing, often with the help of an abrasive substance such as Comet Cleanser. Yet, when it comes to your teeth, such rigorous action can damage gum tissue. When you use baking soda or other abrasive substitutes for toothpaste, the damage can be severe over time. Those good intentions to have a ‘well-scrubbed’ mouth can backfire, leading to exposed tooth roots, gum disease and even tooth loss.

It is recommended that you use a soft bristle toothbrush and a standard toothpaste with fluoride. Rigorous scrubbing is not necessary. Use a circular and swiping motion on all teeth, on all sides. However, blood in the sink when you spit doesn’t mean you did a good job. As a matter of fact, this can be a warning sign of gum disease.

If you see blood, lighten up on the pressure you are using. Flossing carefully so you are not ‘popping’ the floss into between teeth, which can cut gum tissue. If you still see blood after a week, you may have gum disease. Periodontal (gum) disease will only worsen without treatment and you should be seen by a periodontal specialist as soon as possible. Because gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the U.S., early treatment may save your teeth.

Signs of periodontal disease include:

• Gums that bleed easily, or are red and tender;
• Gums that recede from teeth, exposing tooth root portions;
• Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth;
• Teeth that become loose;
• A change in the alignment of teeth or fit of your dentures or partials.

If you have noticed any of these signs, call (828) 274-9440 for an examination.

Gum Disease, Inflammation & Foods To Pass Up

Posted on Apr 29, 2013 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection and inflammation of the gums that causes loss of the bone that support teeth.  Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury and infection. However, chronic inflammation creates an over-production of immune cells that actually damage, rather than repair. Rampant inflammation can lead to cancer, arthritis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, as well as other major health problems.

To aid your body’s ability to keep inflammation in check, it is important to maintain a healthy mouth. Your mouth can be a tremendous source of bacteria, which can develop into gum disease. When gum disease weakens oral tissues, this bacteria can enter the bloodstream. Research has already associated the inflammatory reaction of oral bacteria with a list that includes coronary artery disease, stroke, memory loss and diabetes.

This information, in itself, should be enough to motivate adults to brush (at least twice daily) and floss every day. However, it is also important to keep those six-month dental exams and cleanings. This allows removal of bacteria-laden plaque, which can occur between visits (even for diligent brushers and flossers).  Plaque build-up is what your Hygienist is scraping off, and no amount of brushing or flossing will remove it.

In addition to maintaining good oral health, you may be interested in a list of foods that may actually add to harmful inflammation. While everything in moderation is always wise, some foods are more irritating and tend to exaggerate inflammation. They include:

MSG – This preservative and flavor enhancer is a chemical that has been shown to have inflammatory responses. While more research is needed to understand why MSG causes inflammation, we already know that the human body does not tolerate it well.

Sugar – Excess sugar in the body creates havoc in a number of ways. While the body goes through intricate maneuvers to process it, the end result is inflammation.

White Bread – White bread is refined to nothing more than fast-digesting carbohydrates that irritate the body. Both white bread and pastas break down quickly into sugar, leading to higher sugar levels in the blood.

Gluten – Sensitivity to gluten can lead to bloating or digestion problems. It is believed that these symptoms could be an inflammatory response.

Alcohol – Alcohol becomes sugar as soon as the body begins to break it down. A small amount of alcohol is tolerable – even beneficial. However, too much allows bacteria to easily enter the linings of the intestines. This can lead to irritation and inflammation.

Trans Fats – Many processed foods are full of hydrogenated oils (manmade fats), which can damage the cells that line your blood vessels.  This results in ‘plaque buildup’ in arteries.

We’ll keep you posted on new findings as they are published. In the meantime, if you’ve been irregular with oral hygiene at home or infrequent with your dental check-ups, call us for a periodontal exam. It’s one of the wisest ways to help protect your overall health and well-being! Call (828) 274-9440 to schedule.